Clinical experience with a new ultrasonic and LithoClast combination for percutaneous litholapaxy

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess a new lithotripter for intracorporal lithotripsy, which combines the mechanically driven pneumatic LithoClast (Electro-Medical Systems, Nyon, Switzerland) and a new ultrasonic device (Electro-Medical Systems), for use in percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy (PNL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The new lithotripter consists of a LithoClast Master with 12 Hz repetition rate and a new ultrasonic device. The 1.0 mm LithoClast probe is advanced off-centre through the hollow 3.3 mm ultrasonic probe and protrudes about 1 mm. A new irrigation system with a pinch valve compressing the irrigation tube, a foot-switch for activating the ultrasound, the LithoClast and both together, and a stone bucket at the outlet tube are new features. Between February 1999 and August 2001, 68 patients were treated by PNL with the new device; 35 had complete and 33 had partial staghorn calculi. PNL was administered under fluoroscopic control and with the patient prone. RESULTS: The mean (range) duration of surgery was 61 (42-119) min. The complete stone-free rate was 66% after the first PNL; of the 68 patients, 16 received a second PNL, giving a final stone-free rate of 76% and 80%. The stone was composed of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) in 13%, COM with uric acid in 35%, apatite in 20% and cystine in 11%. Clinically the new lithotripter was very effective, producing smaller stone particles and thus fewer residual stone fragments after PNL than with the LithoClast or ultrasonic fragmentation alone. CONCLUSION: The new lithotripter provides easily managed and highly effective stone fragmentation of all stones, regardless of their composition.